Liquid atomizer



July 13, 1937. F. w. Lor-15E LIQUID ATOMIZER Filed July so. 1935 Patented 'July 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid atomizers and in the particular form herein described is applied to an atomizer of the type convenient for atomizing perfumery, in which it is particularly desirable to have a convenient and reliable means for hermetically sealing the container or bottle when the atomizer is not in use in order to prevent deterioration or evaporation of the expensive liquid content.

10 It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable leak proof means capable of adjustment for securing effective atomizing of the liquid to be atomized and with this object in view the invention comprises, generally speaking, the combination, with a bottle closing head provided with a liquid eduction tube and with a bottle venting orifice, of a reversible atomizing head which in one position serves to receive and atomize the liquid supplied thereto by means of a compressed air passage leading to the atomizing nozzle and, in the other position, forms a complete and reliable means of sealing the closure head against the escape of liquid on the entrance of air to the interior of the bottle, so that the device may be conveniently carried in a handbag or other receptacle without danger of leakage er loss of contents.

This and other features of the invention will be particularly described in the following speci- 3() cation and will be deilned in the claims hereto annexed.

A simple and convenient embodiment of the principles of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the complete assemblage of atomizer and container viewed in the direction of the axis of the atomizing nozzle.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the complete atomizer as viewed at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical central section intersecting the axis of the discharge nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the atomizer head adjusted to inverted or sealing position to seal the stopper head outlets against the escape of liquid or entrance oi' air.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on plane 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the detail of atomizing nozzle.

In the practice of the invention as herein described and illustrated in the drawing, the liquid container or bottle i may be of any suitable form provided with an open neck for connecting the atomizlng stopper' and head in any suitable manner, as by means of a tight fitting coupling member 2, which is internally screw threaded to receive the externally threaded attaching nipple of the closure head 3, which is provided with a central liquid discharge passage 4 which is in constant communication with the liquid through the medium of the liquid eduction tube 5, which projects downward into the body of liquid. The closure head 3 is also provided with an offcenter bottle venting passage 6. The closure head or stopper 3 has an upward tubular exmk* tension 3' which is provided with a transverse diametrical slot extending to its top in order to permit the insertion of the atomizing head hereinaiter described. The liquid discharge passage 4 is formed with a smooth annular upper edge 15 providing a sealing scat and at a suflicient distance therefrom is provided a larger sealing seat iormed, in this case, by means of a gasket or washer i3 dimensioned to include Within it both the liquid discharge passage 4 and the ofi-center vent passage 6.

The atomizing and sealing head, in this case, comprises a cylindrical plug or head 9 which, in the position indicated in Fig. 3 for atomizing liquid, has a fiat top and a convex bottom concentric with the liquid discharge passage 4. Said plug 9 is provided with a transverse internally threaded bore Ill, which receives liquid from the liquid discharge passage 4 in the stopper through a vertical central passage IB arranged on the central axis of the plug or head. In the discharge end of the transverse passage i0 is secured an atomizing nozzle H having a discharge orice ila and inside of this atoinizing nozzle extends the reduced end of a compressed air tube I2 arranged, as shown in Fig. 5, to leave passages between its exterior and the inside of the discharge nozzle ll sufllcient to allow the flow of liquid through the atomizlng nozzle caused by the partial vacuum. produced by the passage of the compressed air through the air supply tube l2 and out through the discharge orifice Ila on the well known exhaust or vacuum principle.

The compressed air or aspiratory tube l2 is connected with any suitable source of compressed air, such as the usual air compressing bulb 20.

It is of course necessary, in order to secure effective aspiration of the liquid, to form a tight joint between the lower end ol the atomizing head 9 and the seat surrounding the discharge passage 4 in the stopper head 3. Accordingly, the lower end of the atomizing head 9 is oi convex form, preferably of conical form 55 concentric with the liquid passage I0, so that the convex or conical surface of this part of the atomizing head tightly engages the annular seat surrounding the liquid discharge passage 4.

This tight joint is eiiected by the clamping nut 8, which is internally threaded to engage the exterior thread of the upward tubular extension iln of the stopper and which is provided with a centrally recessed boss 8@ adapted to exert a strong thrust against the upper end of the atomizing head 9 when the clamping nut is screwed down against the same. It will be understood that the inner wall of the tubular extension 3Il is dimensioned to snugly receive and retain the cylindrical atomizing head 9.

Obviously, when the nut 8 is removed the atomizing head can be inserted into the tubular extension 3a of the stopper with its lower convex end bearing against the annular seat aforesaid, while the clamping action of the nut insures a tight joint in order to permit effective exhausting of the liquid through the atomizing nozzle.

When it is desired to seal the atomizer against leakage the nut or threaded cap 8 is removed, the atomizing head 9 is lifted from its seat, turned upside down or reversed and is inserted in its inverted position into the tubular extension until its then lower end engages the annular sealing seat I3. The clamping nut is then screwed down to force the atomizer head tightly against the outer sealing seat i3 and thus escape of liquid through either the discharge passage 4 or the bottle venting passage 6 is positively prevented.

The construction is very inexpensive as it calls for no exacting precision of parts, While the sealing of the bottle as well as the establishing of an eiective joint between the liquid passages of the atomizing head and the liquid eduction tube is perfectly effected, while at the same time in atomizing position the vent orice opening outside that joint into the tubular slotted extension perfectly performs its function of supplying air to the interior of the bottle as the liquid is eX- hausted. The Whole construction is self-contained and dependsl merely upon the reversing adjustment of the atomizer head, While all joints, either for connecting the liquid passages or for sealing the stopper against the escape of liquid, are absolutely leak proof due to the tightness of the joints secured through the clamping nut.

What I claim is:

1. In a leak proof atomizer the combination of a. bottle stopper provided with liquid discharge and air venting passages, an atomizing head having liquid discharge and compressed air passages leading to an atomizing nozzle and being removable and reversible end for end, said head in one position of adjustment providing a tight cornmunicating connection between the liquid discharge passages of the stopper and of the head and when adjusted to an inverted position providing a stopper sealing joint preventing leakage of liquid through said stopper.

2. In a leak proof atomizer the combination of a bottle stopper provided with liquid discharge and air venting passages, an atomizing head having liquid discharge and compressed air passages leading to an atomizing nozzle, said head in one position of adjustment providing a tight communicating connection between the liquid discharge passages of the stopper and of the head and when removed and reinserted in reversible end for end .position providing a stopper sealing joint preventing leakage of liquid through said stopper, and means for clamping said head when in either position against the stopper to insure tight joints.

3. A leak proof atomizing stopper embracing in its construction a bottle stopper adapted for attachment to a liquid container and provided with separate liquid discharge and air venting passages and having concentric annular seats, the inner of which includes the liquid discharge passage, the outer of which includes both said passages, a separate atomizing head provided with liquid-discharge and air-venting passages, one end of which, when disposed in lowermost position, engages the inner seat to form a communicating joint between the liquid discharge passages, the other end of said head being formed to engage the outer seat when in lowermost position, and means for tightly clamping said head in either position of adjustment against the appropriete seat to establish in the one case a tight joint connection for the ilow of liquid through the atomizer and in the other case a leak proof seal for both stopper passages preventing the escape of liquid through the stopper.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bottle stopper provided with separate liquid discharge and air venting passages and having a tubular extension interrupted by a transverse slot, an atomizing head having a transverse bore carrying at one end an atomizing nozzle and at the other end an air injecting tube, one end of said head being formed with a convex surface converging upon a central passage affording communication between the liquid passage in i the stopper and the liquid passage in the head, the other end of said head being provided with a sealing surface arranged when the head is inverted to seal the stopper against the escape of 3 liquid through either of the passages.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bottle stopper provided with separate liquid discharge and air venting passages and having a transversely slotted tubular upward extension, an atomizing head adapted to be inserted in said tubular extension and having an atomizing nozzle projecting through one side of the slot, and a compressed air tube projecting through the opposite side of the slot, said head being provided with a vertical central liquid passage for conducting liquid to the atomizing nozzle when the head is in one position of adjustment and when in inverted position of adjustment serving as a sealing closure to prevent escape of liquid through the stopper. and a clamping nut having threaded engagement with the stopper to force the atomizing Vhead in either position of adjustment tightly against said stopper.

6. A device of the class described embracing a bottle stopper provided with separate liquid discharge and air venting passages and having a vertically slotted tubular extension, an atomizing head having an atomizing nozzle arranged for insertion in one vertical slot and having communication through the lower end of said head with the liquid discharge passage in the stop-per and having also communication with an air injecting tube arranged for insertion in another vertical slot, the other end of said head being imperforate and forming when the head is inverted a closure preventing the escape of liquid through either stopper passage, and means for firmly seating said head when in either position of adjustment against the lower portion of the stopper.

'7. A device of the class described embracing a bottle stopper provided with liquid discharge and air venting passages, a. reversible atomizing head removable from and reversibly insertable in the upper part of said stopper in position to receive from the liquid discharge passage in the stopper a. supply of liquid and deliver it in an atomized spray when in one position of adjustment and when in its reverse position of adjustment preventing the escape of liquid through the passages in the stopper, and screw threaded means for forcing said reversible head into rm engagement with said stopper when said head is inserted in atomizing position or in its reversed 5 

